Associated Artists of Winston-Salem, Inc. upcoming events

Lovely Layers: Unlocking the Mysteries of Mixed Media with Brandi Jacques (09/19/2026)

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Unlock Mixed Media, Layered Art with Brandi Jacques

Unravel the secrets of multi-layered artwork. Discover ways to draw viewers in and make them wonder. With Brandi's engaging teaching style and encouraging support, artists of all levels will explore playful paths to personal expression through mark-making, collage, painting, and more.

The course will cover which materials are compatible, the optimal layering order, and how to integrate layers into a unified whole. Participants will come away with six layered pieces in progress... maybe even completed!

What to bring: (Suggested but not required. Brandi will have some supplies and papers on hand, which are included in the supply fee.)

Artists may bring their own water-soluble supplies if desired.
A sketchbook/notebook and pen/pencil may come in handy.
Participants may bring any paper materials they wish to use in collage. There will also be plenty of collage material provided.

This class is offered at a drastically reduced price thanks to the generous funding from the Shallow Ford Foundation.

About the Instructor:

Brandi Jacques is an award-winning artist and educator with 40 years of teaching experience. She holds a PhD in Music Education from the University of Toronto and has spent her career inspiring students through both the performing and visual arts. A member of the Associated Artists of Winston-Salem, her paintings have been exhibited at venues including the Milton Rhodes Gallery, the Benton Convention Center, and the Elberson Fine Arts Center.

Equally at home in abstraction and realism, Brandi often blends the two to capture fleeting moments in nature, the play of light and shadow, and the mysterious textures of time—ancient parchments, asemic writing, and surreal landscapes. Her teaching reflects the same spirit of exploration and freedom, encouraging students to discover their own creative voices through the energy and expressiveness of painting, drawing, and mark-making.

Artist Meet Up (09/20/2026)

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Join us for our fun, informal artist meet-ups every third Sunday at Broad Branch Distillery from 2pm on.

Art Tidbits - Colored Pencils (09/30/2026)

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 17:30:00 GMT

Art Tidbits - Colored Pencils

Perhaps you’ve already used colored pencils with an adult coloring book but would like to learn more about using it in your own original artwork. Colored pencils are fascinating, easy to use, portable, economical, and, according to colored pencil artist Susan Morris, one of the most versatile mediums available.

Join her at our first Art Tidbits as she shares her love for the medium and presents a brief overview and introductionof how they can be used.

About the Instructor:

Susan is a member of AAWS, as well as The Colored Pencil Society of America (CPSA) She has illustrated children’s books and written several step-by-step tutorials that have been published in Ann Kullberg’s COLOR Magazine. She also contributed a chapter to a book titled “DRAW Dogs in Colored Pencil,” published by Ann Kullberg.

Water and a treat will be provided.

Plein Air Watercolor Painting with Kara Bugis (10/10/2026)

Sat, 10 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Plein Air Watercolor Painting with Kara Bugis

Course Description:

In this half-day plein air experience with Kara Bugis, artists will learn how to really observe their surroundings and portray the emotions that they feel while they are there. Participants are invited to bring their own watercolor materials and learn about focusing on the beauty of our own backyard at the Mary Alice Warren Community Center. A view finder will be provided with instructions on finding a good composition and interesting subject matter.

Course Itinerary:

9 – 9:30am: Introductions, discussions of materials and composition
9:30-11:30am: Exploration outside, finding a suitable scene or subject, set up, and begin sketching or painting.
11:30am-12:00pm: Feedback and critiques.

Supply List:

Required:

A full set of preferred watercolor paints
- Tube options: Indigo, Primary set
- Pan option
Watercolor brushes
- Any size 0, 2, 8, 12, wash – set option
Watercolor block or pad sized 9x12” and up (block does not require taping or a clipboard)
- Good option
- Better
or Unbound Paper (will need to tape to a clipboard to prevent warping
- Good option
- Better
Pencil and Erasers
Watercolor tin and/or palette
A bag or backpack that will fit all of these items.

Optional, but encouraged:

Waterproof pens
Watercolor pencils
A fold-out chair or bucket to sit on outside
Option with table and storage
Umbrella or rain jacket in case of inclement weather
Camera or cell phone camera to take reference photographs

Provided Supplies:

Clipboards, painter's tape, viewfinder, and 1 piece of loose watercolor paper per student will be available.

The artist has linked to items that she regularly uses in her practice. These include affiliate links, which means she may receive compensation if you click on links to products and make a purchase. This comes at no additional cost to you.

Artist Bio: Kara Bugis

Growing up in rural Western Pennsylvania, I gained an appreciation for the natural environment and art from my family of farmers, teachers, and environmental workers. I was blessed to grow up barefoot in my backyard, with access to every type of artistic medium and private lessons from my retired art-teacher grandfather and nature-loving grandmother. My love of art and the environment have grown throughout my relocations and adventures, and I enjoy teaching my children and others about the importance of conserving our natural resources through my artwork.

The best way for me to appreciate both the outdoors and art is to combine the two through plein air painting. Second, painting memories of places that I’ve visited or animals I’ve encountered helps me feel as if I’m there again. I’ve traveled the world and painted the places that I’ve visited in honor and appreciation of our natural environment. I enjoy all types of media, depending on my mood and the season.

Ceramics are my medium of choice in the fall and spring, when it is cooler to fire my kiln; watercolor when I am traveling or want a memory-like painting; and pen and ink, acrylics, and pastels when I want a more defined subject.

This class is offered at a drastically reduced price thanks to the generous funding from the Shallow Ford Foundation.

Artist Meet Up (10/18/2026)

Sun, 18 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Join us for our fun, informal artist meet-ups every third Sunday at Broad Branch Distillery from 2pm on.

Color Theory: Aerial Perspective in Landscapes with Kimberly Varnadoe (11/07/2026)

Sat, 07 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Color Theory: Aerial Perspective in Landscapes with Kimberly Varnadoe

Aerial perspective is described as the use of gradations in color and definition to suggest distance. In addition to linear perspective, which uses parallel lines converging on the horizon to convey depth, this tool will heighten the appearance of distance in your paintings.

Leonardo Di Vinci developed the idea of aerial perspective. It relates to the Munsell color system in that colors generally get Lighter (value), Bluer (hue), and Grayer (chroma) as the space recedes into the distance.

Simply put, aerial perspective is the atmospheric distance between objects in a painting. Depending on our relationship to the objects, and the relative distance involved, this can be quite apparent. The heavier the atmosphere, the more moisture in the air, the more pronounced the effect. Lower elevations, which commonly have higher amounts of moisture in the air, are the easiest places to see the effect. Think of viewing a landscape on a rainy or foggy day. The drier the atmosphere and the higher the elevation, the less apparent it becomes.

THIS CLASS:

This class will explore the concept of aerial perspective, guiding you through color sequences you can use as a basis for creating deep space on a 2-D plane. We will work on loose color sketches/paintings in a variety of color schemes so we can experience the process and take this skill back to the studio to apply to our paintings.

All materials for acrylic painting will be provided, but if you have a favorite medium (watercolors, colored pencils, etc.) and/or brushes you would like to use, feel free to bring them.

This class is offered at a reduced price due to the generous grant from the Shallow Ford Foundation.

Artist Meet Up (11/15/2026)

Sun, 15 Nov 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Join us for our fun, informal artist meet-ups every third Sunday at Broad Branch Distillery from 2pm on.